r,7 


Jbhratf 


« 


lssii.il   l-VI>runr\    23,    ISMffl 


U    S.  DEPARTMENT   (  >l     ACRKTI.TI   ki:. 

BURKAU  OF  PLANT  INDUSTRY      Circular  No.  22. 
B.  T.  G  vi.Lim  'AY,  Chief  of  Bureau 


FARM    METHODS  OF   APPLYING    LAND 

PLASTER  IN  WESTERN  OREGON  AND 

WESTERN  WASHINGTON. 


BYRON  HUNTER, 

\--i-iwi     \.  ,i:k  i  in  i:ivj .  ( )}■•]](  i     of    K\i:m    ManAOEMEN' 


AASHIN 

JTON  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  :   1»0« 

■POSITOI 

BUREAU  OF  PLANT  INDUSTRY. 

Physiologist  and  Pathologist,  and  chief  of   Bureau,  Beverly   T.   Calloway. 

Physiologist  and  Pathologist,  end  Assistant  Chief  of  Bureau,  Albert  F.  Woods. 

laboratory  of  Plant  Pathology,  Erwin  I'.  Smith,  Pathologist  in  Charge. 

/  ruii  Disease  Investigations,  .Merlon  B.  Waite,  Pathologist  in  Charge. 

Investigations  in  Forest  Pathology,  H?"en  Metcalf,  Pathologist  in  Charge. 

Cotton  ami  Truck  Diseases  and  Plant   Disease    Survey,  William  A.  Orton,   Pathologist   in 

Charge. 
Pathological  Collections  and  Inspection   Work,  Flora  W.   Patterson,  Mycologist  in  Charge 
Plant  Life  History  Investigations,  Walter  T,   Swingle,   Physiologist    In  Charge. 
Cattun    Breeding  Investigations,   Archibald   D.   Shamel   and   Daniel   N.   Shoemaker.   Physl 

ologists   in   (  harge. 
Tobacco    Investigations,    Archibald    D.    Shamel,    Wightman    W.    earner,    and    Ernest     11 

Mathewson,    in    Chai    e 
Corn  Investigations,  Charles  P.  Hartley,  Physiologist  in  Charge. 
Alkali  and  Drought  Resistant  Plant  Breeding  Investigations,  Thomas  11.  Kearney,   Physl 

ologist    in   Charge. 
Soil    Bacteriology   and    Water   Purification    Investigations,   Karl    F.    Kellerman,    Physiolo 

gist    in    Charge. 
Bionomic  Investigations   of  Tropical  and  Subtropical   Plants,  Orator   F.   Cook.    I'.i mlsl 

in    Charge. 
Drug  and  Poisonous  Plant  and  Tea  Culturt    Investigations,  Rodney  II.  True,  Physiologist 

in  Charge. 
Physical  Laboratory,  Lyman  .1.  Briggs,  Physicist  in  Charge. 
\<n  h  ni  i  in  ai  Technology,  Nathan  A.  Cobb,  ('nip  Technologist  in  Charge. 
Taxonom ie  ami  Range  Investigations,  Frederick  V.  Coville,  Botanist  in  Charge. 
Farm    Management,  William  .1.  Spillman,   Agriculturist  in  Charge. 
i, inin   Investigations,  Mark  Alfred  Carleton,  Cerealist  in  Charge. 
Arlington  Experimental  Farm  and  Horticultural  Investigations,  Lee  C.  Corbett,  Horticul 

turist  in  Charge. 
Vegetable  Testing  Gardens,  William   W.  Tracy,  si:,   Superintendent. 
Sugar-Beet  Investigations,  Charles  O.  Townsend,  Pathologist   in  Charge. 
Western  Agricultural  Extension,  Carl  S.  Scofield,  Agriculturist  in  Charge. 
Dry-Land  Agriculture  Investigations,  F.  Channing  Chilcott,  Agriculturist  in  Charge. 
Pamological  Collections,  Gust&vus  1'..  Brackett,  Pomologisl  in  Charge. 
Field  Investigations  in   Pomology,  William  A.  Taylor  and  i;.  Harold  Powell,  Pomologlsts 

in    Charge. 
Experimental  Gardens  and  Grounds,  Edward   M.  Byrnes,  Superintendent. 
Foreign  Seed  and  Plant  Introduction,  David  Fairchild,  Agricultural  Explorer  in  Charge 
Forage  Crop  Investigations,  Charles  V.  Piper,  Agrostologist  in  charge. 
Seed  Laboratory,  Edgar  Brown,   Botanist    in  charge. 
<,,./■//  Standardization,  John  I1.  Shanahan,  crop  Technologist   iu  Charge. 
Subtropical  Garden,  Miami,  Fla,,  1'.  .1.  Wester,  in  Charge. 

Plant   Introduction   Harden.  Chico,  <  Hi.,   W.   W.  Tracy,  jr..   Assistant  Botanist  iu  Charge. 
South   Texas  Garden,  Brownsville,  Tex.,   Edward  C.  Green,   Pomologist   in  Charge 
Farmers'  Cooperative  Demonstration    Work,  Seaman   A.    Knapp,   Special   Agent  in  Charge. 
Seed    Distribution    (Directed    by   Chief   of    Bureau),    I. isle    Morrison,    Assistant   in   General 

Charge. 


Editor,  .1.   E.   Rockwell. 
Chief   Clerk,  .lames   E.    Jones 


fCir.  22] 
2 


It    P.    I        (29 


FARM    METHODS  OF  APPLYING  LAM)  PLASTER 

l.\  WESTERN  OREGON  AND  WESTERN 

WASHINGTON. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Land  plaster"  i-  now  used  in  western  Oregon  and  western  Wash- 
ington, especially  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  as  a  fertilizer  for  legumi- 
nous crops.     It  i<  sometimes  used  on  vetch  when  grown  on  | r  land. 

but  its  principal  use  is  on  red  and  alsike  clover  as  a  top-dressing.  If 
■sown  early  enough  to  be  dissolved  by  the  rain-,  land  plaster  materially 
increases  the  yield  of  all  leguminous  crops  in  this  section.  It  gives  to 
clover  a  green,  healthy,  vigorous  appearance,  while  untreated  clover 
is  often  yellowish  and  sickly  looking.  When  no  plaster  is  used 
grasses,  as  well  as  sorrel  and  other  weed-,  have  a  strong  tendency  to 
crowd  nut  the  clover.  Where  the  plaster  is  properly  applied,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  clover  grows  rapidly  and  holds  the  weeds  in  cheek 
much  better. 

Land  plaster  is  usually  applied  in  the  early  spring  a-  -non  as  the 
clover  -od  i-  i\vy  enough  to  he  run  over  without  being  injured.  Farm- 
ers who  pasture  their  clover  in  the  spring  with  sheep  to  retard  its 
development,  so  that  haymaking  will  occur  after  the  June  rains  are 
<>\er.  almost   invariably  apply  their  plaster  during  March,     lint   it' 

'I..1111I  plaster,  or  gypsum,  is  a  form  of  lime  in  combination  with  sulphuric 
arid,  ii  is  found  as  a  r<»-l.;  like  mineral  deposit  in  many  widely  scattered  states 
from  New  York  to  California.  Formerly  it  was  extensively  used  in  agriculture 
as  a    fertilizer  for  legumes,  especially  the  clovers,  but    in   recent   years  and  in 

most  places  it   has  been  quite  generally  superseded  bj   other  forms  of  lim ■ 

c  direct   forms  of  potash  fertilizers.    Onlj  aboul  one-third  of  the  weight  of 

gypsum  is  lime:  the  remainder  is  sulphuric  acid  and  water,  .lust  what  the 
action  of  land  plaster  is  in  the  soil  or  why  it  is  of  such  benefit  to  clover  and 
other   legumes   is  not    well    understood.      Its  value   is  believed,   however,   to  be 

ehieflj    due  to  its  indirect   effeel   in  setting  free  planl    f 1  already  in  the  soil, 

espet  lallj  potash,  to  its  tendency  to  make  the  soil  alkaline,  and  to  its  flocculat- 
ing effect  in  heavy  clay  soils,  bj  which  the  drainage  and  mechanical  condition 
of  such  soils  are  Improved.  Ii-  beneficial  effect  on  tin-  clovers  may  probably  he 
explained  bj  the  fart  thai  these  crops  are  preeminently  potash  feeders  and 
delight  in  a  pervious  soil.  For  n  fuller  discussion  of  the  action  of  gypsum,  see 
the  revised  edition  of  storer's  Agriculture,  vol.  1.  p.  •"••"•1 
[Cir.  J-] 


4  FARM     METHODS    OF    APPLYING    LAND    PLASTER. 

applied  in  the  early  spring  to  clover  that  can  not  be  retarded  by  pas- 
turing, the  crop  grows  vigorously  and  matures  for  hay  early  in  June. 
Rains  are  not  infrequent  at  this  season  and  haymaking  is  often  diffi- 
cult.  For  these  reasons  plaster  is  sometimes  applied  the  last  of  April 
or  the  first  of  May,  so  that  the  crop  will  mature  a  little  later. 

The  amount  of  plaster  used  varies  from  30  to  100  pounds  per  acre. 
While  some  apply  as  high  as  100  pounds  per  acre,  farmers  generally 
agree  that  from  :")0  to  60  pounds  is  sufficient  for  a  hay  crop,  provided 
the  plaster  is  evenly  distributed.  A  heavy  application  causes  a 
growth  of  too  much  straw  for  a  seed  crop  of  clover,  and  from  30  to 
40  pounds  is  generally  considered  enough  by  seed  growers. 

An  application  of  from  30  to  40  pounds  of  plaster  to  young  clover 
is  very  beneficial,  as  the  clover  starts  better  and  makes  a  better  stand 
and  a  heavier  growth  in  the  fall.  When  clover  is  sown  in  the  spring 
with  oats  or  other  spring  grain,  a  heavy  application  of  plaster  causes 
the  clover  to  grow  too  vigorously.  Being  shaded  by  the  grain,  the 
stems  are  tall  and  slender.  Under  such  conditions  the  hot  sun  may 
burn  the  clover  and  destroy  the  stand  when  the  grain  is  cut.  Only 
light  applications  of  plaster  should  therefore  be  made  when  clover  is 
sown  with  grain  in  the  spring. 

With  but  few  exceptions  land  plaster  is  distributed  by  hand  in 
western  Washington  and  western  Oregon.  It  is  distributed  either 
from  a  sack  carried  by  the  sower  or  from  a  box  or  hopper  in  the  back 
end  of  a  wagon.  It  is  very  difficult  to  sow  plaster  by  hand.  Too 
much  is  usually  applied  in  the  middle  and  not  enough  on  the  margins 
of  each  strip  sown.  The  wind  blows  the  plaster  and  it  is  very  difficult 
to  keep  from  applying  it  in  streaks.  If  it  is  distributed  evenly  the 
growth  of  the  crop  is  quite  uniform  over  the  Held,  but  if  distributed 
in  streaks  the  clover  also  grows  in  streaks.  Where  little  or  no  plaster 
falls,  sorrel,  grasses,  and  other  weeds  often  constitute  the  principal 
part  of  the  growth.  Figure  1  strikingly  illustrates  the  effects  of 
irregular  sowing,  whether  by  hand  or  otherwise. 

Uniform  distribution  of  the  plaster  increases  the  yield  of  the  crop. 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  clover  yields  one-half  ton  more  hay  to  the  acre 
where  the  plaster  is  evenly  distributed  than  where  the  distribution 
is  uneven.  Again,  the  clover  comes  on  vigorously  all  over  the  field 
and  holds  the  weeds  in  check  much  better  when  the  plaster  is  evenly 
distributed. 

Sowing  plaster  by  hand  is  very  disagreeable.  The  sower  breathes 
large  quantities  of  the  line  dust.  It  gets  into  his  eyes  and  all  over 
his  person.  Few  hired  men  are  willing  to  do  the  work  and  (he 
farmer  usually  has  to  do  it  himself.  In  the  attempt  to  scatter  it 
evenly  the  sower  usually  Lret^  on  from  one  and  one-half  to  two  times 
as  much  as  is  necessary.  This  waste  amounts  to  from  l20  to  50  pounds 
per  acre. 
fCir.  22] 


I   \K.\I     METHODS    "I     APPLYING    LAND    PLASTEK.  0 

The  difficulties  of  sowing  land  plaster  by  hand  eaii  be  partially 
come  by  mixing  ii  with  two  to  lour  times  its  bulk  of  dry  soil  or 
ashes. 

During  the  past  season  the  writer  made  a  study  of  farm  methods 
of  applying  land  plaster  in  the  region  under  discussion.  Farmers 
were  found  in  different  localities  who  have  worked  oui  some  very 
satisfactory  devices  for  thi-  purpose.  The  object  of  this  circular  is  to 
describe  these  implements  in  order  that  other  farmers  may  profit  by 
the  experience  of  these  men.  It  is  hoped  that  the  descriptions  given 
herewith  are  sufficiently'  clear  to  enable  any   farmer  who  is  reason- 


Fio.    1.     Field  showing  the  effect   of  land  plaster  on  clover.     Thi    <i    rk   streaks  01 
side  show  the  heavy  growth  of  the  clover  where  the  plaster  was  applied.     On  the  li^-lit 
!.  in  the  center  of  the  figure  where  no  plaster  was  applied  the  growth  of  clover  was 
very  sea 

ably  handy  with  tools,  with  the  assistance  of  a  local  blacksmith,  to 
construct  at  a  reasonable  cost  an  efficient  implement  for  distributing 
land  plaster. 

KOON'S    LAND-PLASTER   DISTRIBUTER. 

Several   years  ago   Mr.   Clarence    Koon,   of   Lane   County,   Oreg., 
bought  a  wheelbarrow  grass  seeder  with  whirl,  to  sow  his  clover  and 

alfalfa   seed.     Ih nceived  the  idea  of  remodeling  it  and  convert 

ing  it  into  an  implement   for  distributing  land  plaster.     He  removed 

22] 


6 


FARM    METHODS    OK    APPLYING    LAND    PLASTER. 


the  seed  box  and  replaced  it  with  a  larger  and  heavier  box.  The 
groove  in  the  bottom  of  the  box  was  made  three- fourths  of  an  inch 
square.  The  feed  holes  in  the  bottom  of  the  groove  were  made  one- 
half  inch  in  diameter.  A  |-inch  feed  rope  was  used  in  the  box  in- 
stead of  the  small   one.     With  a   little  practice  he  soon   learned   to 

adjust  the  feed  to  sow  any 
amount  desired.  The  im- 
plement as  remodeled  did 
excellent  work,  but  the 
weight  of  the  box  and 
plaster  made  it  difficult  to 
run  by  hand.  The  wheel- 
harrow  was  not  strong 
enough  to  stand  this  e'x- 
Fig.  2. — An  implement  for  distributing  land  plaster  \ya  weiffht  SO  it  had  to  be 
devised  by  Mr.  Clarence  Koon,  Lane  County,  Oreg. 

strengthened  where  pos- 
sible. After  using  this  device  for  two  years,  Mr.  Koon  remodeled 
(he  box  and  attached  it  to  a  road  cart.      (See  fig.  2.) 

The  box,  or  hopper,  for  holding  the  plaster  is  14  feet  long,  out- 
side measurement.  The  bottom  board  of  the  box  is  1]  inches  thick 
and  6|  inches  wide.  A  rabbet  three-fourths  of  an  inch  deep  and  2} 
inches  wide  is  cut  in  the  upper  front  edge  of  the  bottom  board 
throughout  its  entire  length.  (See 
fig.  3.)  The  board  forming  the 
front  of  the  box  is  three-fourths  of 
an  inch  thick  and  5J  inches  wide. 
The  under  edge  of  the  front  board 
is  nailed  to  the  middle  of  the  rab- 
beted edge  of  the  bottom.  This 
leaves  a  groove  three-fourths  of  an 
inch  square  in  the  bottom  of  the  box 
at  its  front,  and  a  lip  three-fourths 
of  an  inch  wide  on  t  he  outside,  upon 
which  the  bow  slides.  In  the  bot- 
tom of  the  groove  are  half-inch 
holes  3  inches  apart,  through  which 
the  plaster  passes  as  it  is  being 
distributed.  The  groove  is  covered 
with  a  piece  of  heavy  galvanized 
iron  2\  inches  wide.  On  the  front  side  of  this  strip  of  galvanized 
iron  rectangular  holes  or  notches  three-fourths  of  an  inch  wide  and 
1  inch  long  are  cut.  The  notches  are  :',  inches  apart  from  center 
to  center.  The  strip  of  galvanized  iron  is  so  placed  in  the  bottom  of 
the  box  that  the  notches  come  midway  between  the  half-inch  holes  in 
the  bottom  of  the  groove. 


Fig.  3. — Cross  section  of  the  box  of  the 
land-plaster  distributer  shown  in  figure 
2.  The  bOS  is  (illed  forward  SO  thai 
the  plaster  will  slide  to  the  lower  front 
edue.  Because  of  this  position  the  bach 
of  the  box  is  not  .-is  high  as  the  front. 


FARM     METHODS    OF    APPLYING    LAND    PLASTER.  7 

The  board  forming  the  back  of  the  box  is  three  fourths  of  an  inch 
thick  and  I '.  inches  wide.  It  is  nailed  to  the  back  edge  of  the  bottom. 
The  end  boards  are  l  inch  thick,  .">]  inches  long  on  the  bottom  edg<  . 
;'> !  inches  wide  on  the  back  end.  and  .">  inches  wide  on  the  front  end. 
To  keep  the  plaster  dry,  the  box  is  covered  with  a  light  lid. 

The  bow  is  l'»  feet  long.  The  heads  of  the  bow  arc  three-fourths 
of  an  inch  thick,  1;  inches  wide,  and  I  inches  long.  The  bodj  of 
the  bow  between  the  heads  is  three-fourths  of  an  inch  square  and 
II  feet  I  niche-  long.  A  §-inch  rope  is  put  through  the  groove  in 
the  box  and  stretched  across  the  heads  of  the  bow,  which  lies  in 
place  mi  the  rabbeted  lip  of  the  bottom.  The  rope  is  permanently 
fastened  to  one  end  of  the  bow.  As  the  rope  will  stretch,  it  is  neces 
sai\  to  fasten  ii  to  the  oilier  end  in  such  a  way  that  it  may  be  tight- 
ened. It  may  be  passed  around  the  head  of  the  bow  and  tacked 
temporarily.  A  better  way  i-  to  securely  fasten  across  the  end  of 
(he  how  a  piece  of  iron  with  a  j  inch  hole  in  one  end.  The  end  of 
the  iron  with  the  hole  in  it  projects  beyond  the  edge  of  the  bow 
enough  to  permit  the  rope  to  pa--  through  the  hole.  The  rope  is 
then  tightened  and  held  in  place  by  driving  a  hardwood  wedge  into 
the  hole  beside  it. 

Figure  •_'  shows  the  box  attached  to  the  cart.  Scantling  are  bolted 
to  the  under  side  of  the  -haft-.  They  rest  on  the  axle  and  project 
far  enough  behind  the  cart  to  furnish  support  for  the  box.  Wedges 
are  placed  under  the  hack  of  the  box  to  till  it  forward  enough  to 
cause  the  plaster  to  slide  to  the  front  edge.  A  L2-inch  hoard  i-  bolted 
across  the  scantling  between  the  box  ami  the  wheel-  of  the  cart. 
Tin-  i-  to  support  the  lever  that  moves  the  how  hack  and  forth.  The 
front  edge  of  the  hoard  i-  raised  by  mean-  of  wedges  to  give  the  lever 
it-  proper  position. 

The  bow  i-  moved  hack  and  forth  by  means  of  a  lever  that  gets  ii> 
impetus    from    one   of   the    wheels.      The    lever  consists   of   two    piece-. 

one  being  about  I  inches  shorter  than  the  other.  The  two  piece-  of 
the  lexer  are  fastened  together  h\  mean-  of  a  thin,  flat  piece  id'  iron. 
The  right-hand  margin  of  the  iron  plate  i-  securely   fastened   with 

screws  to  the   long    piece  of  the    lever    where    (he    latter    pa— es  OVer  I  he 

torting  board.  I  [alf-inch  hole-  three  fourl  lis  of  an  inch  apart  pass 
through  the  iron  plate,  the  long  piece  of  the  le\cr.  and  the  supporting 
board.  The  level  is  held  in  position  mi  the  L2-inch  hoard  upon  which 
it  rests  by  mean-  of  the  pivotal  pin  and  three  clamps  or  guide  plates, 
two  on  the  left  side  and  one  on  the  right  side.  These  guide  plate- 
are  shown  in  figures  I  and  ."..  When  in  position  they  are  fastened 
with  screws  to  the  12-inch  supporting  hoard.    The  guide  plate  on  the 

ll'ir    22] 


8 


FARM    METHODS    OF    APPLYING    LAND    PLASTER. 


right  is  about  11  inches  long'.  It  has  half-inch  holes  three-fourths  of 
an  inch  apart  in  its  left  margin,  through  which  the  pivotal  pin  passes. 
The  length  of  the  stroke  of  the  lever  is  controlled  by  changing  the 

position  of  the  pivotal  pin  in 
these  holes.  The  lowen  left- 
hand  corner  of  the  plate  is 
bolted  to  the  lower  end  of 
the  short  piece  of  the  lever. 
In  the  upper  left-hand  cor- 
ner of  the  plate  of  iron  is  a 
slot  an  inch  long.  This  cor- 
ner of  the  plate  of  iron  is 
fastened  to  the  short  piece 
of  the  lever  by  means  of 
a  thumbscrew  that  passes 
through  the  slot.  The  upper 
cuds  of  the  two  pieces  of  the 
lever  have  each  a  V-shaped 
iron  guide  attached  with 
screws.  Their  position  and 
shape  are  shown  in  figures 
i  and  5. 

By   means  of  the  thumb- 
screws    just     described     the 
guide  plates  are  set  just  far  enough  apart  to  allow  the  spokes  of  the 
wheels  to  pass  between  them.      Plates  of  iron  are  fastened  to  spokes 
where  the.  guide  plates  rub.  to  prevent  the  spokes  from  being  cut  oil'. 


Fig.  4. — The  lever  of  the  land-plaster  distributer 

shows  in  figure  -  complete  as  it  rests  upon  the 
board  thai  supports  it.  Three  guide  plates 
and  a  pivotal  pin  hold  die  lever  in  place. 
Two  of  Hi ese  plates  are  on  the  lefl  and  one  on 
the  right.  The  one.  on  the  right  has  holes  in 
its  left  margin  through  which  the  pivotal  pin 
passes.  On  the  upper  ends  of  the  two  pieces 
of  the  lever  are  V-shaped  guide  plates.  When 
the  spokes  strike  these  plates  the  lever  moves 
back  and  forth.  On  the  lower  end  of  the 
lever  is  an  iron  that  catches  into  tlio  staple  on 
the  bow. 


Fig.  •"•.  The  lever  of  the  land  plaster  distributer  shown  In  figure  2.  The  clamps,  or 
guide  plates,  lie  on  either  side  of  the  lever.  The  staple,  oi  socket,  into  which  the  iron 
on  the  lower  end  of  the  lever  catches  is  shown  ai  the  left  oi  the  *vo  small  guide 
plates,      it   is  fastened  to  the  bow  with  screws. 

The  piece  of  iron  that  is  bolted  to  the  lower  end  of  the  lever  projects 
far  enough  to  catch  into  a  socket  or  staple  fastened  to  the  bow.  As 
the  spokes  of  the    wheel   strike   the  guide   plates  the   lever  is  moved 


I'  \  I :  M     METHODS    n|-     \|'|'|.\IM,    LAND    PLASTER. 


9 


back  ami  forth.  The  lever  in  turn  moves  the  bow.  The  longer  tin' 
stroke  the  greater  the  amount  of  plaster  sown,  and  vice  versa.  After 
(lie  rope  <>n  the  bow  has  been  used  for  some  i  ime  it  gets  full  of  plaster 
and  the  feed  is  diminished  slightly.  A  rope  will  so"«  about  100  acres. 
Ii  should  then  be  cleaned  or  replaced  with  a  new  one. 

From  the  illustrations  of  this  device  for  distributing  land  plaster  it 
will  lie  -.ecu  that  ii  can  lir  attached  to  a  buggy  or  the  hind  wheels  of 
the  running  gear  of  a  wagon.  It  can  also  be  mounted  upon  a  pair  of 
wheels  by  letting  the  scantling  upon  which  the  box  rests  extend 
forward  far  enough  to  serve  a-  shafts.  The  wheelbarrow  grass 
seeder  is  one  of  the  best  device--  for  sowing  clover  seed.  A  farmer 
who  needs  a  plaster  distributer  will  doubtless  need  a  grass  seeder  also. 
We  would  advise  those  contemplating  the  construction  of  this  im- 
plement to  gel  the  wheelbarrow  grass  seeder  first.  With  it  to  look  at 
and  the  descriptions  given  herewith  the  construction  of  a  plaster 
distributer  should  be  a  simple  matter. 

In  order  that  this  implement  may  do  perfect  work,  the  land  plaster 
should  be  dry  and  thoroughly  pulverized.  Difficulty  is  sometimes 
experienced  in  distributing  plaster  that  is  damp  and  full  of  lumps 
and  small  pieces  of  uncrushed  rock.  Putting  the  plaster  through  a 
sieve  to  remove  the  lumps  and  pieces  of  uncrushed  rock  materially 
aids  in  it-  distribution. 


OLSON'S   LAND-PLASTER   DISTRIBUTER. 

Some  five  years  ago  Mr.  Charles  Olson,  of  Washington  County, 
Oreg.,  undertook  the  task  of  making  a  satisfactory  implement  for 
distributing  land  plaster.  Since  then  a  local  smith  has  constructed 
several  of  these  implements,  and  the  original  has  been  improved  in 
several   particular-. 

Figure  6  illus 
trates  this  distrib- 
uter. It  consistsof 
a  long  box,  or  hop- 
per, mounted  on  an 
old  pair  of  mower 
wheel-.  A  large 
square  -haft  re- 
volves in  the  Kol 
torn  of  the  box  to 
agitate  the  plaster. 
The  implement  ha-  a  tongue  and  i-  drawn  by  two  horses.  The  box  is 
shaped  very  much  like  the  box  of  an  ordinary  grain  drill.  It  is  11 
feel  lone.  Inn  can  he  made  any  length  desired.  The  bottom  of  (he 
box  :-  l  ,  inche-  thick.  .">',  inches  « ide,  and  1 1  feet  1<>  inches  lone-,  thus 
projecting  Far  enough  beyond  the  end    of  the  box  to  furnish  support 

[Clr   22  j 


I  i'.    U       \n   Implement    for  distributing   land   plaster  devised 
iiy   Mr.  Charles  Olson,  .>i    Washington  County,  Oreg. 


10 


FARM    METHODS    OF    APPLYING   LAND   PLASTER. 


Fig.  7.-    Bottom  view  of  Olson  Land-plaster  distributer,  show 
ing  the  holes  in  the  box   through  which   the  plaster  p 
;ind  the  attachment  of  the  tongue  and  its  braces  to  the  box 
The   lever   for  adjusting  the  feed,   carried    in   straps  on   the 
front  of  the  box,  is  also  shown. 


for  the  bearings.  The  front  and  back  pieces  of  the  box  are  1}  inches 
thick  and  11  inches  wide.  The  lower  edges  of  the  side  pieces  rest 
on  top  of  the  bottom  piece.  The  ends  of  the  box  are  1  j  indies  thick. 
Each  end  consists  of  two  pieces.     The  lower  piece  is  about   1   inch 

wide  and  has  a  half 
circle  cut  in  the 
middle  of  its  upper 
edge.  The  upper 
piece  ha>  a  half 
circle  cut  in  the 
middle  of  its  lower 
edge.  When  the 
two  pieces  are  put 
together  they  form 
a  circular  h  ole  , 
through  which  the 
shaft  passes.  The 
end  pieces  fit  the  shaft  snugly,  so  that  the  plaster  will  not  work  out. 
The  ends  fit  in  grooves  cut  in  the  side  pieces.  They  are  held,  in  place 
by  small  iron  rods  that  run  across  the  box.  To  protect  the  plaster 
during  showers  the  box  is  provided  with  a  lid  13  inches  wide. 

Holes    for   the   plaster   to   pass 
through  are  cut   in  the  bottom  of 
the  box.     (See  fig.  T.)     These  are 
three-eighths  of  an  inch   wide.  2$ 
inches    long,    and    3    inches   apart. 
These  holes  run  across  the  box — 
that  is.  the  length  of  the  holes  is 
at   right    angles   to   the   length   of 
the  box.     On  the  under  side  the 
hole-  are  about  an   inch   wide.      A 
piece  of  galvanized  iron  with  holes 
corresponding   to    those    just    de- 
scribed   is    placed    in    the    bottom 
of  the   box    in   such   a    way   as  to 
form   a  curved  bottom.      (See  fig. 
8,  which  shows  a  cross  section  of 
I  lie   box.)      This   piece   of  galvan- 
ized  iron   is  s  inches  wide  and   i- 
as  long  as  the  inside  of  the  box. 
Its  edges  are  nailed  to  the  sides.      Another  piece  of  galvanized   iron 
10  inches  wide,  with  corresponding  feed  hole-,  lit-  snugly  over  the 
stationary  one  fastened  in  the  bottom  of  (he  box.    This  upper  piece 
of  iron  is  movable  Lengthwise  of  the  box.      Its  edges  pass  up  the  sides 
[Cir.  22] 


Fig.  s.  -Cross  section  of  the  box  of  (he 
land  plaster  distributer  shown  in  figure 
6:  1.  bottom  ;  2,  side-. ;  :;.  top,  or  lid; 
I.  square  shaft  that  revolves  in  the 
bottom  of  i he  box;  •">.  stationary  sheet 
of  galvanized  iron:  6,  movable  sheet  of 
galvanized  iron;  7.  cleats  that  hold  the 
upper  sheet  of  galvanized  iron  in  place, 


FARM     \l  I   rHODS    OF    APPLYING    LAND    PLASTER.  II 

of  the  box  and  are  covered  by  cleats.  The  cleats  are  narrow  strip* 
of  galvanized  iron  1!  inches  wide  nailed  to  the  side-  of  the  box. 
They  are  bent  in  the  middle  to  give  room  for  the  edg<  ■  of  the  sheet 
of  galvanized  iron  thej  cover.  Ii  will  be  seen  thai  the  upper  piece 
of  galvanized  iron  is  held  in  place  by  the  cleats  only  and  can  be 
moved  lengthwise  in  either  direction  to  open  or  close  the  le9Q  holes. 

The  wheels  of  Ihe  implemenl  arc  old  mower  wheels.  A  large 
iron  shafl  run-  through  the  bottom  of  the  box  and  connects  the  two 
wheel-.  At  the  end-  thi>  shaft  is  cylindrical,  but  on  the  inside  it  is 
1  |  inches  square.  The  turning  of  this  square  rod  in  the  bottom  of 
the  box  constantly  work-,  the  plaster  out  through  the  i\~vt\  hole-  and 
ps  ii  from  packing  in  the  bottom  of  the  box.  In  fact,  the  turning 
of  this  square  shaft  in  the  bottom  of  the  box  is  one  of  the  essential 
features  of  the  implement.  It  nm-t  be  perfectly  square  and  be  so 
located  that  the  corner;:  will  just  touch  the  galvanized  iron  when  it 
turn-.  Another  poinl  \erv  essential  to  observe  in  the  construction 
df  this  implement  i-  making  the  hole-  in  the  two  piece-  of  galvanized 
iron.  They  niu-t  exactly  correspond.  IT  they  do  not.  some  of  the 
feed  hole-  will  lie  larger  than  other-  ami  the  plaster  will  he  dis- 
tributed unevenly.  After  the  hole-  have  been  cut  the  two  piece-  of 
galvanized  ir<  n  are  riveted  together,  put  into  a  vi-e.  and  the  margins 
of  the  hole  led  until  they  exactly  correspond,  after  which  they 

are  taken  apart  and  placed  in  the  feed  box,  a-  already  indicated. 

In  the  middle  of  the  box.  just  over  the  large  shaft  that  revolves,  a 
bar  of  iron  one  hall'  of  an  inch  square  passes  aero--  the  box.  The 
end-  of  thi-  bar  are  split,  flattened  out.  and  riveted  to  the  top  sheet  of 
galvanized  iron  just  below  the  deal-  already  described.  The  split 
em!-  of  t he  bar  arc  7  or  8  inches  lone-  to  give  the  union  strength.  .Iu-t 
o\er  the  square  half-inch  bar  of  iron  a  flat  bar  of  iron  ■_'  inches  wide 
with  a  hole  in  it-  center  is  bolted  aero--  the  lop  of  the  box.  By  run- 
ning a  lexer  down  through  thi-  hole  and  prying  on  the  half-inch  bat 
of  iron  the  upper  sheet  of  gal\  anized  iron  may  he  slid  either  way.  thus 
ope  ling  or  closing  the  U-n\  hole-.  The  lever  used  for  this  purpose  is 
a  (lai  piece  <>f  iron  •_'  feet  long,  three-eighths  of  an  inch  thick,  and  1 
inch  wide.  In  the  lower  end  of  the  lever  is  a  half  inch  notch  thai 
permits  the  lever  to  -lip  over  the  half-inch  bar  of  iron.  (See  lie-. 
B  and     I 

A-  previously  stated,  the  bottom  piece  of  the  box  projects  beyond 
the  end  .  Upon  these  projections  the  bearings  for  the  shaft  are 
bolted.  The  shaft  is  round  until  it  passes  through  the  end  of  the 
box,  and  for  aboul  2  inches  at  the  middle  point :  elsewhere  ii  is  square 
and  revolves  in  the  bottom  of  the  box.  There  is  a  bearing  in  the  center 
of  the  box  where  the  -haft  i-  made  cylindrical,  a  I. road  staple  being 
driven  down  over  the  shaft.      Thi-  staple  passes  through  (he  bottom 


12 


F.YKA!     AIKTIIOPS    <>!■'    APPLYING    LAND    PLASTER. 


and  an  iron  plate  that  is  fastened  underneath  the  tongue.  It  is 
fastened  below  with  nuts.  This  center  hearing-  is  necessary  to  take  the 
"  shake  "  out  of  the  shaft  and  hold  it  in  place  so  that  it  will  rub  the 
bottom  just  right.  Tn  addition  to  being  bolted  to  the  bottom  the 
tongue  has  iron  braces  on  either  side.  To  keep  the  box  from  spread- 
ing thef¥  are  two  iron  stirrups  that  fit  on  the  under  side  of  the  box. 
The  stirrups  and  side  braces  of  the  tongue  are  bolted  to  the  bottom 
of  the  box  ( fig.  T). 

The  wheels  of  all  these  implements  that  have  been  made  have  been 
taken  from  old  mowers.  The  wheels  best  suited  for  the  purpose  are 
those  provided  with  ratchet  wheels  into  which  pawls  or  catches  drop 
and  cause  the  shaft  to  revolve  when  the  implement  is  moving  forward. 
Only  one  ratchet  wheel  is  necessary  if  the  implement  is  driven  around 
the  field  to  be  plastered,  with  the  ratchet  wheel  on  the  outside.  Some 
means  should  be  provided  for  raising  the  catches  that  drop  into 
the  ratchet  wheels  so  thai  the  shaft  will  not  revolve  when  going  to 

and  from  the  field. 
Otherwise  it  will  be 
necessary  to  close 
the  feed  holes. 

If  wheels  with 
ratchets  are  not  to 
be  had  a  hole  may 
be  drilled  through 
the  shaft  and  the 
hub  of  one  of  the 
wheels.  The  shaft 
will  be  revolved  by 
putting  a  pin  through  this  hole.  The  implement  should  then  be 
driven  around  the  field  with  this  wheel  on  the  outside,  so  that  the 
plaster  will  be  sown  when  turning  the  corners.  When  taking  the 
implement  from  one  place  to  another  the  pin  in  the  end  of  the  hub 
can  be  removed.  With  the  pin  out  the  shaft  will  not  turn,  and  little 
or  no  plaster  will  be  sown. 

The  construction  of  this  distributer  costs  from  s.">:>  to  $40.  The  help 
of  a  smith  is  necessary.  This  is  a  very  efficient  implement,  and  so  far 
as  the  writer  knows  fails  to  work  only  when  the  plaster  is  very  damp. 
When  the  plaster  is  in  this  condition  it  sticks  to  the  (vi'i\  rod  and  does 
not  go  through  evenly.  Under  these  conditions  it  is  necessary  to 
spread  the  plaster  in  the  sun  to  dry.  Willi  this  machine  it  is  not 
necessary  to  screen  lumpy  plaster.  The  lumps  are  pulverized  by  the 
feed  rod. 
[Cir.  I'-' I 


I'm.  9. — Inside  view  of  the  box  of  tin'  land-plaster  distributer 
illustrated   in   figure  6,  showing  the  feed  holes,   the  square 
rod   that   revolves   in  the  bottom  of  the  hex.   and   the  posi- 
tion of   the   lever   when   used  in  slipping   Hie  upper  sheet  of' 
galvanized  iron  to  open  or  Hose  the  feed  holes. 


FARM     METHODS   01      APPLYING    LAND    PLASTER. 


I;; 


END-GATE  SEEDERS. 

A  number  oi  farmers  are  using  end-gate  seeders  for  sowing  land 
plaster.  <  >ne  of  these  seeders  is  easilj  attached  i«>  a  wagon,  the  board 
to  which  ii  is  bolted  being  the  same  in  width  and  length  as  the  end 
gate  of  the  wagon  box.  It'  the  plaster  is  diy  and  tin-  air  still,  end 
gate  seeders  do  fairly  good  work.  If  the  plaster  is  damp  it  gives 
some  trouble  by  packing  in  the  feed  hopper.  The  machine  being  so 
high  above  the  ground,  ii  is  difficult  to  sow  the  plaster  successfully 
when  (lie  wind  is  strong.  It  is  besi  i<>  drive  at  right  angles  to  the 
direction  in  which  the  wind  is  blowing.  The  worker  can  then  keep 
himself  reasonably  free  from  the  dust. 

Most  of  the  end-gate  seeders  used  for  sow  ing  land  plaster  have  but 
one  fan.     Mr.  ( '.  \l.  Widmer,  of  Benton  County.  ( >reg.,  uses  a  double 
fan  machine  w  ith  a  clover-seeder  attachment.    The  seeder  is  attached 
to  a  carl   made  from  the  hind  wheel-  of  an  old  wagon.      The  coupling 
i>   replaced   bj    a 
pole    that     serves 
as  a  tongue.     The 
side  pieces  of  ( he 
box   are  2   inches 
thick.     12    inches 
wide,    and    6    feet 
long,  and  the  box 
projects      behind 
the     axle     about 
half    its    length. 
It  is  swung  under 

the  axle  by  means       Fig-    10.— A    double-fan    end-gate   seeder    attached    to    the    bind 
i-      | ;.....  'Pi  wl Is   of    a    wagon.      Used    by    Mr.    C.    R.    Widmer,    Benton 

sin  i  ups.      i  in-         c,,,,,, iv,  ,, 

fronl  end-  of  the 

side  pieces  of  the  box  arc  bolted  to  a  2-by-C-inch  scantling  that  crosses 
beneath  the  hounds.  A  bottom  is  placed  in  that  portion  of  the  box 
behind  the  axle.  On  the  front  part  of  the  cart  is  a  -cat  for  the  driver. 
The  hoard  to  which  the  seeder  is  attached  forms  the  end  "'ate  of  the 
box.  When  the  seeder  is  mounted  on  a  cart  in  thi>  way  the  fans  that 
throw  the  plaster  are  just  18  inches  above  the  ground,  and  the  effect 
of  the  wind  on  the  plaster  is  much  less  than  when  the  machine  is 
attached  to  a  wagon  box.  A  cart  similar  to  the  one  just  described 
l>ut  differing  in  some  details  is  shown  in  figure  10. 

This  double  fan  seeder  has  a  force  W'Vi],  and  little  trouble  is  experi 
I   with   clogging  unless  the   plaster  is  damp.     When   it   clogs  a 
light  tap  on  the  hopper  usually  starts  the  \'vn\  again.     The  machine 
has  two  hoppers,  one  for  grain  and  the  other  for  clover  seed.     The 

Kir.  —] 


14  FARM     METHODS    OF    APPLYING    LAND    PLASTER. 

plaster  is  sown  from  the  clover-seed  hopper.  About  35  pounds  of 
plaster  can  be  placed  in  the  hopper  at  a  time.  The  machine  mounted 
on  a  cart  as  described  sows  a  strip  10  feet  wide.  A  marker  at  the 
side  of  the  cart  indicates  the  next  place  to  drive.  All  of  these  imple- 
ments do  better  work  if  the  plaster  is  put  through  a  sieve  to  take  out 
the  small  pieces  of  uncrushed  rock. 

SUMMARY. 

(1)  Land  plaster  has  been  found  of  great  value  in  increasing  the 
yield  of  leguminous  crops  in  western  Oregon  and  western  Washing- 
ton. 

(2)  It  is  very  difficult  to  distribute  land  plaster  evenly  by  hand. 
Parts  of  the  field  will  receive  too  much  plaster  and  parts  will  not 
receive  enough.  Where  there  is  too  much  plaster  the  growth  may 
be  so  rank  that  the  clover  falls  before  it  can  be  harvested.  Where 
there  is  not  enough  plaster  the  growth  is  seldom  what  it  should  be. 
It  is  a  conservative  estimate  to  say  that  clover  will  yield  one-half 
ton  more  hay  per  acre  where  the  plaster  is  distributed  evenly  than 
where  it  is  distributed  unevenly. 

(3)  Most  men  apply  more  plaster  than  is  necessary  when  sowing  it 
by  hand.  An  implement  that  distributes  the  plaster  evenly  will 
usually  save  20  to  50  pounds  to  the  acre. 

(4)  Where  the  plaster  is  evenly  distributed  the  crop  comes  on 
vigorously  and  quite  evenly  all  over  the  field  and  holds  the  weed-; 
in  check.  Sorrel,  grasses,  and  other  weeds  usually  give  considerable 
trouble  to  clover  and  alfalfa  where  no  plaster  is  used  or  where  the 
distribution  is  uneven. 

(5)  Sowing  plaster  by  hand  is  an  unpleasant  task.  Men  are  scarce 
who  can  apply  it  evenly,  and  few  hired  men  can  be  trusted  to  do  it. 
For  these  reasons  the  farmer  has  to  do  it  himself.  A  good  implement 
for  distributing  land  plaster  makes  it  possible  for  anyone  to  do  the 
work  who  can  drive  a  team.  Farmers  have  been  found  in  different 
localities  who  have  worked  out  some  very  satisfactory  devices  for  this 
purpose.  Detailed  descriptions  with  drawings  are  given  for  three 
of  these  devices. 

Approved  : 

James  Wilson, 

Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

Washington,  D.  C,  November  30,  1908. 

|  (Mr.  22] 

o 


UNIVERSITY  OF  FLORIDA 


3  1262  08928  9515 


